Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1887-08-04

der my OpseFNAlioA IpF At JbdSt TWO hours.
Perhaps he was mystifier or fool to
me the terms are Synonymous
81 fancy we are playing at cross pur-
poses," hs added after passe The fact
is that go daily among the Chinese at
the East End, in whom / take a great in
terest, and what you have seen is one of
the inevitable drawbacks to my occupa-
ton"
Like all enthusiasts, once started on
his hobby, nc proceeded to ride it to
death. He explained to me that by ~ur
system of fostering the opium industry
in India, we were causing yearly the
death and moral ruin of thousands OF in
teligent Chinese. He dilated for an
hour, and then he launched out upon the
destitute condition of tho large Chinese
colony at the East End of London.
tried TO get away several times, but in.
effectually. At last he succeeded IN com
municating to me pOrtion-a very small
portion-of his own enthusiasm. He
painted terrible picture of John China
man in London, homeless, penniless,
friendless, hopeless, possessed body and
soul by the opium fiend, spending his
hard earned coppers IN soraid dens upon
the fatal drug, whisb was TO assuredly
repay bis infatuation by gradually steal
ing away his good health, his brains, and
al last mis- life. He fairly made my flesh
creep.
"My dear fellow he said, ",here is no
time like the present; come and see for
yourself"
resisted, but in vain. I have said
am difident. fear ! have no strength
rs, I g4I3
not say no to Campbell. Ii was 10
O'Clock at night He got me down stairs
II was an awful night. In a hanson cab
he dragged me to the most dreadful slum
of the East End of London. Such sordid
misery as | saw there l had never
dreamt of.
am not going to infict upon you a
long description of an opium den; that
has been done before by a master-hand
and has been attem pied over and over
again by puny imitators. There lay
John Chinaman enjoying his poison. A
china ink bottle and a bit of BAN
boo formed his pipe. The inkbottle
had bole in the side, on which the
treacly looking drug was carefully
smeared, then it was lighted. John
smoked few whiffs in evident ecstacy,
and then John died, or at least appeared
to do so. Opium smoking John was a
miserable object; he was lean, sickly look
ing, melancholy sight.
ATS very dreadful, isn't itf" said
Campbell. 81 mustn't let this opportun-
ity slip. You're doctor. l want TO see
what it's like. 1t isn't mere curiosity
feel; it's sort of melancholy duty. Now
you're here, I'll get you to watch over
me-
OF what new absurdity was Campbell
about to be guilty. 1t was bad enough
that he should bring un pleasant proofs of
his philanthropy to that peaceful place,
the Rice and Curry club; ii was worse that
he should drag me, a professional man,
gratuitousiy- that was the extra sting TO
it-and in the middle OF the night, TO an
abominable Chinese den at the East End
of London But now he put climax TO
his wickedness by asking me to watch over
him, as if | were guardian angel.
never felt less like guardian angel in
my life. was about to Indignantly re-
fuse
Il sent away the cab" said Campbell
coolly.
Horror! we were then to stop here till
morning! for there was certainly no get
ting away from the place except in a cab.
had recently seen The Romany Rye"
and the awful horrors of the East End of
London at midnight were fresh in my
mind. Who knows but that had been
deccyed here by CompbellY He might
be my illegitimate brother, who had
brought me here to murder me, and | was
an unarmed man! The remembrance of
Mr. Wilson Barrett's frantic struggles
flashed through me. Alas, had seen for
myself that the very horrible persons on
the Princess stage we're ne eXaggeration.
/ was evidently in for il, but / determined
that nothing should decoy me into those
dreadful streets, of which, from orr cab
window, I had already seen more than
enough.
But Campbell proceeded to reassurs
me. "My dear fellow" he said, "you
seem uncomfortable, bUt there is nothing
20 be alarm ID about; all | want you TO do
is TO look after me professionally. l am
about to make an experiment, by trying
for myself what the muchVaunted de-
lights of opium-smoking really arc,
These poor fellows he said, with a 81 m
pathizing glance at the disgusting corpse
| like objects, who lay about in every
direction, always tell me that if l only
! try it once, should do as they do / feel
that ! could speak TO them with more
authority if had really made tho ex-
pertinent, and now is my opportunity.
shall ask our host to supply me with q
| pipe OF his best opium
! He turned to diabolicsl looking old
! ChinamAn who sat croucaing on the floor
warming his atenuated fingers over an
/ earthen pot filled with live charcoal, anc
! addressed him in his native language.
/ did not understand what they said
/ they smiled grinned ana gesticUlated
and | saw that 1t was no use TO argue witt
| Campbell He deliberately took off hi.
/ coat and collar, aud undid the top button
| of his shirt. then he calmly proceeded tC
I Ia down by the side of ono Of the revolt
| ing objects en- the great wooden bedstead
which formed the only furniture in tn,
/ sordid room.
The Chinaman produced from hi
| breast a rather more elaborate pipe thar
those had yet seen. II was about sil
/ inches long; the bowl was formed of
! tiny saucer Of silver, the size of a shilling
From a small metal box the old man pro
/ ceeded TO charge 1t with opium; he theI
] So /. /.